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Top 10 things to do in Lisbon

Portugal's capital city offers an unpretentious culture coupled with a splendid, historic cityscape. As one of Europe's oldest cities, it's also one of the most fascinating to explore! Here are some top tips to get you started.

Jeronimos Monastery

The magnificent Jeronimos Monastery near the shoreline of Belém was once home to the Hieronymite monks – Catholic hermits whose primary role it was to pray for the King's soul!

Bairro Alto

The loosely translated Upper Neighborhood is Lisbon's most historically opulent quarter. Bairro Alto is a great place to wander, its preserved romantic ambiance boasts some of the city's top attractions!

Lisbon Cathedral

Built in 1147 and subsequently developed over time, the Lisbon Cathedral is a bold mix of architectural styles, yet maintains the imposing authority of its Medieval incarnation.

Rossio Square

Once the scene of celebrations, bullfights, executions, and uprisings, Lisbon's historic Rossio Square is the meeting point of choice for locals and tourists alike.

Alfama

The city's oldest district can be found between the São Jorge Castle and the Tagus River. Alfama is the place to be for Lisbon's best restaurants and Fado bars!

Tagus River

Whether cycling along its bank or cruising its waters, be sure to explore Lisbon's pulse. Tagus River's estuary is a haven for fish, crustaceans, and birds, including flamingos!

Commerce Square

Called Praça do Comércio in Portuguese, this vast town square is also known as Palace Square (Terreiro do Paço). The Royal Palace stood here before being flattened by the 1755 Lisbon Earthquake!

Belém Tower

Not only did his 16th-century harbor fortress defend the municipality of Lisbon from coastal attack, but Belém Tower was also crucial to Portugal's role in the era's Age of Discovery!

Photo: PortoBay Hotels & Resorts@ flickr (CC BY 2.0)

Chiado Square

Chiado's subsequent recovery after a devastating fire in 1988 has made it perhaps the wealthiest corner of the city. It's now Lisbon's most famous shopping district!

Santa Justa Lift

With the advent of electric power, Lisbon built two elevators to improve access between its hilly streets. This peculiar feat of engineering is a true relic!

Planning Your Lisbon Visit

Best time to visit?

Lisbon is lucky enough to have the warmest winters in Europe without the disadvantage of suffering from intense summer heat. Nevertheless, the subtropic coastal climate is prone to sudden bursts of rain even on its clearest days, so be warned! Going in late spring or early autumn generally means cheaper hotel prices and more manageable crowds.

How many days?

The heart of Lisbon makes a great choice for a long weekend, but many of its top attractions lie within the city's greater subregion. Top day trips include Belém, Sintra, Fátima, and Cascais, with many more besides. Each will need at least an entire day to see, if not two.

How to get from Lisbon airport to the city?

Though Lisbon is cheap by the standards of most European capitals, getting one of the cabs waiting outside the airport can be expensive. If you're traveling somewhere central without much luggage, it's undoubtedly cheaper and easier to take the metro. It should only take about 25 minutes to the city center.

Other Sightseeing Options in Lisbon

What People Are Saying About Lisbon

Memorable intimate tour of Sintra & Lisbon!

My husband and I booked this trip to explore Sintra and we were thoroughly surprised on how intimate and memorable it was! Carlos, our tour guide, was knowledgeable, friendly, and humorous. With a small group, it was fun getting to know the other tourists on our trip and getting to experience it with some fun people. Carlos also had great insight to the foods and delicious eats (which I truly appreciate and love) which made for a great lunch break with unforgettable roasted lamb and potatoes and a dessert to dream about for days to follow. Seriously recommend booking with Carlos, you'll have a wonderful time.

Ronnie Smith, she knows her stuff and was super entertaining! Thanks!

If you only do one thing in Lisbon, do this!

This was the best of both worlds. My husband and I had a wonderful private walking tour with a fantastically informed guide. We learned about Lisbon's history, including political, religious and social. The port tasting was in a cozy, elegant restaurant and we also sampled olive oils, cheeses, and ham. Absolutely amazing experience that I would recommend to anyone visiting the city!